FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Lavrov in Turkey Stresses, Putin Considers Trade in National Currencies a Top Priority

Aug. 15, 2018 (EIRNS)—Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference in Ankara, after talks with his host, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, that establishing trade in national currencies with various countries is a top priority for President Vladimir Putin. Lavrov stated:

“I am confident that the grossest abuse of the dollar’s role as the global reserve currency will weaken it. It will be sinking, and more and more countries—even those which are not affected by the U.S. sanctions—will go away from the dollar, just to be on the safe side, and count on more reliable partners... As for how to overcome these illegal barriers and restrictions—indeed, the use of national currencies in mutual trade is one of the main tasks that the presidents of Russia and Turkey have put in place. A similar process took place in our relations with Iran. We are reaching an agreement with China, and already initiated payments in national currencies in our mutual trade.”